Praetura Ventures leads XR Games’ £1.5m investment round

(XR Games developed Angry Birds The Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure in partnership with Rovio and Sony Entertainment)

See further coverage here:

Leeds video game firm XR Games to expand with new jobs and premises after it lands £1.5m funding (Yorkshire Post)
VR Games developer secures £1.5 investment (Insider Media)
Leeds-based XR Games raises over €1.7 million to expand its games portfolio (EU Startups)

Praetura Ventures, the firm committed to providing capital and support to early-stage businesses across the north of England, has invested from its EIS 2019 Fund and will now work closely with founder and CEO Bobby Thandi and his team as they execute the next stage of their growth strategy.

Headquartered in Leeds, XR Games was founded in 2017 and specialises in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) games for licensed intellectual properties.

XR Games has collaborated with big-name brands including Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and Rovio Entertainment for console VR games, and has recently released The Angry Birds Movie 2 VR: Under Pressure to critical acclaim. The studio is also set to embark on several new strategic partnerships, including one with an innovative LA-based production company.

This investment will now enable XR Games to continue to invest in development and expand its games portfolio through new projects with Hollywood film studios and world-famous media and entertainment companies. Bobby’s team includes non-executive director Jason McGann, a skilled creative and technician with more than 30 years’ experience of successfully leading game development studios. Jason was a co-founder of Rockstar Leeds (formerly Möbius Entertainment Limited) where he worked on notable titles in the Grand Theft Auto and Midnight Club series.

XR Games operates in a market that saw global VR revenues reach $8bn last year, with forecasts for the industry as high as $44bn by 2024, according to data from Markets and Markets. Major manufacturers including Facebook and HTC are also expected to bring out next generation headsets over the next year, with Apple rumoured to be unveiling its own device in 2020.

The deal is Praetura Ventures’ eighth of 2019 and its seventh investment in the digital and creative sector since 2014. The firm is one of the most active backers of entrepreneurial businesses in the north of England and its portfolio includes Sorted, Peak and SteamaCo. As part of the deal, Praetura Ventures’ director Mark Lyons will join the board as a nonexecutive director. The investment and support from Praetura Ventures will also enable XR Games to increase its capacity for work-for-hire contracts and expand its team in Leeds.

“We are incredibly excited about Praetura’s investment in XR Games. Not only do they share our vision for growth, they are committed to supporting our ambitions and can provide strategic support alongside an injection of capital. This was a really important factor when choosing our next investment partner and their support represents a significant milestone for our business. Together we will be able to grow our team and continue to build partnerships with major movie studios to capture new opportunities moving forward.”

Mark Lyons, director at Praetura Ventures, added:

“Virtual reality gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry set to grow significantly within the next five years and as technology continues to advance at a rapid rate, XR Games is well placed to keep pace with this demand. Bobby has built a strong business that places consumer experience and client partnerships at its core, and it is a fantastic example of the talent and capability we have here in the north. It’s our mission to provide businesses just like XR with the finance and support they need to deliver great things and that XR Games will firmly establish a foothold at the forefront of the VR gaming industry.”

“ACT Capital are delighted to have Praetura Ventures join us as investors in XR Games. As a mediafocused VC Fund, ACT were an early supporter of XR Games. We have been impressed with the ongoing development of the business and this latest investment round will enable Bobby Thandi and the team at XR Games to continue to build momentum. It is going to be an exciting journey ahead and having Praetura Ventures as a partner will go a long way towards ensuring XR Games ongoing success.”